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22
22A FEW DAYS LATER
BANTU’S WORKPLACE
[on call]
Bantu: I’ve sent people over to come and look on the trucks before they hit the road.
Man: I will be waiting on you then. How is Sandile? I heard he’s getting therapy.
Bantu: therapy? What? Who told you that?
Man: oh, I’m sorry to share the news, I did not know it was such a sensitive and secretive thing. I apologize.
Bantu: I hope we never raise personal matters with each other again, not until we’ve successfully married our children off. I do not appreciate other people knowing my family business. For now, we’re just business partners and I would like to keep things professional until we are officially in-laws.
Man: I totally agree. I crossed boundaries I should not have; I apologize once again.
Bantu: all is well.
Man: I will call later on when the men have arrived, enjoy the rest of your day.
Bantu: sure.
[call ends]
P.A: (over the intercom) Sir, you have a visitor, can I let them in?
Bantu: who is it?
Visitor: I thought you already knew, and you were waiting for me, what is this?
Bantu: let her in.
A FEW MINUTES LATER IN THE OFFICE
Bantu: what was that just now? I said I would call you, and I don’t want you coming to my workplace.
Samkele then what should I have done when you don’t even answer my calls?
Bantu: still. My wife can be here any moment, I just moved here, and she frequents this place more than I’d like her to. Next time please, text me, fax me, email me--- just don’t come to my office without a command.
Samkele: okay, I get that part.
Bantu: how are things going with Sandile? Had he said anything?
Samkele: nothing is going on at all. It is at times like this that I regret the reason why I ever became a therapist. That boy won’t say anything. I only got one thing out of him, and that is he hates your guts. And I kind of get why. When he mentioned you were an angry fellow I did not think things were this intense.
Bantu: what do you mean?
Samkele: I mean he has every reason to hate your guts. He might not be in touch with how he feels right now but he knows exactly how feels about you. I would hate you too if you were my father.
Bantu: I don’t know whether to be offended or not.
Samkele: just take it as it is. I know you put a lot of money into fixing that boy, but he’s not broken. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He will bankrupt you because I won’t stop charging you even though I sit with him for 2 hours without a word.
Bantu: so, what is the plan?
Samkele: that camp thing you mentioned last time--- take him to that. Maybe he’ll come back a reformed man. For now, things are just hopeless with this therapy thing, plus I’m just frustrated and over him. I drive an hour here every appointment day just to sit and watch him say 3 words for 2 hours, please. I am tired.
Bantu: you reckon?
Samkele: juts try it. Now, the lunch you promised, let’s go. We can even stop by a hotel alter if I’m satisfied with today’s service.
Bantu: I feel seduced.
Samkele: that was the plan.
THE MAGAGULA HOUSEHOLD
SANDILE’S ROOM
He knew it was going to hurt, and he knew there was no other easy way out, but to him, this was better than staying locked up in a house with people who want to use him. The countless failed attempt cuts on his wrists gave him the courage to continue and finish things today. It was a beautiful day outside, the weather made him think of that one person who discarded of him, the person who was more of a reason he even made such a decision. The annoying therapist was not going to be here for 3 hours at least, and his mother was probably too busy buttering up people and trying to impress her church friends. By the time they find him, it would be too late--- so here goes nothing, he thought to himself.
Little by little the cut was getting deeper as he stared blankly into nothingness. The pain inflicted on the physical was no greater than the pain he felt emotionally. Tears streamed down as he started making other countless cuts on the other wrist. After a few minutes, he fell, losing power in both his legs. Everything seemed fuzzy and blurry. Only one face played endlessly in his head as he lay on the floor with blood oozing endlessly from both wrists, the cuts were that deep. Thando was tormenting him and healing him at the same time. Maybe things were better this way.
Sandile: I loved you even though I may have not said it, professed, or shown it enough. I am sorry.
Those were the last words he could utter before weakness consumed him and he totally fainted and ran out of energy or even make sense of things.
A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR LATER
A mother wailing in pain and swearing at the gods, the deities, and God Himself sat in a hospital room crying next to her lifeless son attached to an oxygen mask.
Sazi: why didn’t tell me your brother was suicidal? What is happening with this family? first, your father sprints out and almost beat my baby to death and now he does this to himself. What are you hiding from me?
Sibu: Mama, you have to calm down. You are bringing us bad omen when you’re crying like this. The doctors said there are chances he’ll make it out alive. Please, we already have enough going on, don’t let yourself be like this. Sandile needs you.
Sazi: what are you guys hiding from me? there is something and it is not minor! Please tell me! What is going on?
Sibu: I’d prefer to stay out of people’s business.
Sazi: even when your little brother is lying here like this? Does this look okay to you? This is a man who is supposed to be engaged and married soon. For Christ’s sake, I even made plans with Nomhle for this week. What am I going to do?
Sibu: mama, Sandile is gay! The guy he brought home over last time was his boyfriend and they—
Sazi: what?! No! No! No! That cannot be true at all.
Sibu: and that is the reason Sandile fought with Father the last time. He happened to catch him and Thando intimate and he----
Sazi: what? In my house?!!!
Sibu: Ma! Ma! Nurse, I need help over here. My mother fainted! Someone, please help!
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